Calgary, AB, August 3, 2006 (TSX – COS.UN) — Canadian Oil Sands Trust (the
“Trust” or “Canadian Oil Sands”) today announced that Syncrude continues to
progress its activities associated with the operation of its Flue Gas
Desulphurization (“FGD”) unit, which is designed to significantly reduce the
sulphur dioxide emissions from Coker 8-3. However, Syncrude has advised that
the initial bitumen feed into Coker 8-3 will be delayed from early August to
later in August to help ensure a safe startup that meets the expectations of
local stakeholders and Alberta Environment. Syncrude is taking a phased
approach as it gains experience in this new technology and establishes stable
operation of the unit. This process is taking longer than first anticipated.
Further updates on the progress of the Coker 8-3 restart will be
posted on the Trust’s website under the production report as further
developments occur.
Canadian Oil Sands Trust provides a pure
investment opportunity in the oil sands through its 35.49 per cent working
interest in the Syncrude Project. Located near Fort McMurray, Alberta, Syncrude
operates large oil sands mines and an upgrading facility that produces a light,
sweet crude oil. Canadian Oil Sands is an open-ended investment trust, which
allows it to distribute the free cash flow it generates from the Syncrude
Project to Canadian Oil Sands’ investors on a tax-efficient basis. The Trust is
managed by Canadian Oil Sands Limited and has approximately 466 million units
outstanding, which trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol
COS.UN.
Advisory: In the interest of providing Canadian Oil Sands
Trust (“Canadian Oil Sands”, “COS” or the “Trust”) unitholders and potential
investors with information regarding the Trust, including management’s
assessment of the Trust’s future plans and operations, certain statements
throughout this press release contain “forward-looking statements”.
Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to,
statements and graphs (collectively “statements”) with respect to: the
anticipated timing for all Stage 3 units to come on-line and begin full
production. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or
expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature,
forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks
and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility
that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking
statements will not occur. Although the Trust believes that the expectations
represented by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no
assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Some of the risks and
other factors which could cause results to differ materially from those
expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release
include, but are not limited to: ; the difficulties and risks involved in
starting up new equipment and the additional risks and complexity of integrating
a large project such as UE-1 into existing upgrading operations; labour
productivity issues; and such other risks and uncertainties described from time
to time in the reports and filings made with securities regulatory authorities
by the Trust. The outlook expressed with regard to 2006 production, capital
expenditures, operating costs and funds from operations are also all based on
certain assumptions and risks outlined in the 2006 guidance posted on the
Trust’s website and further outlined in the Trust’s annual information form and
annual and quarterly financial
reports.
-30- Canadian Oil Sands Limited Marcel
Coutu President & Chief Executive Officer
Units Listed –
Symbol: COS.UN Toronto Stock Exchange
For further
information: Siren Fisekci Director Investor Relations (403)
218-6228
investor_relations@cos-trust.com
Web site: www.cos-trust.com
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